A resume is a professional snapshot of your work experiences, volunteer experiences, and educational achievements. Because employers typically view resumes very quickly, it's important that it highlights your most recent and related information. A resume is not an application that lists everything you've ever done!

Tips

The best way to write a resume is to meet with a career specialist in our office since each resume is unique.

But here are a few of the most important tips:

Customize your resume for every application. Use words that are similar to the job description and organization's values.

List your most relevant experiences first.

Write each bullet point with action verbs and clear description of your accomplishments and skills.

Develop a crisp, professional layout that is easy for the reader to navigate.

Format and Layout

Most students and recent alumni should write a one page resume that lists experiences in reverse-chronological order. Some alumni and CAPS/GS students with many years of experience use a functional resume, which groups experiences by skills.

Functional (pdf) - only for applicants with 10+ years of professional experience

Examples of Industry Resumes

Each industry can have unique resume requirements, check with a career specialist for current recommendations. More document examples can be found in the documents tab on the Bethel University Online Career Center.